Method for extending HCCI load range using a two-stroke cycle and variable valve actuation

ABSTRACT

A method and system for extending the load range of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) in an internal combustion engine includes detecting a current state of the engine, detecting a load demand placed on the engine, determining if the load demand is beyond a power generating capacity of a four-stroke engine cycle based on the current state of the engine and the load demand, and switching from the four-stroke engine cycle mode to a two-stroke engine cycle mode when it is determined that the load demand is beyond the capacity of the four-stroke engine cycle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to internal combustion engines, andmore particularly relates to a system and method for operating aninternal combustion engine and extending the load range of a four-strokeHomogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) using a two-stroke cycleenabled by variable valve actuation.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] HCCI is a hybrid of two standard internal combustion processes: aspark-ignition (SI) process and a Diesel process. In an HCCI combustionprocess, typically the same fuel (gasoline) is used as in an SI process,but in contrast to standard SI, a spark plug is not used for ignition ofthe fuel. With respect to ignition, HCCI is more similar to a Dieselprocess in that the charge (fuel/air mixture) is compression ignited(i.e., auto-ignited).

[0003] Like Diesel fuel, gasoline is also auto-ignitable when heated toa sufficient high temperature. The typical auto-ignition temperature ofgasoline is higher than for Diesel fuel, and is also higher than thetypical temperature achieved in a cylinder at the end of the compressionstroke in a typical four-stroke SI engine.

[0004] As discussed, for example, in the article “Use of Dynamic Valvingto Achieve Residual-Affected Combustion”, by N. B. Kaahaaina et al.,published as SAE Technical Paper Series No. 2001-01-0529 (2001), theHCCI engine operates in a four-stroke cycle, like the SI engine. Theauto-ignition of the gasoline/air mixture at the end of the compressionstroke is achieved by providing an elevated starting temperature at thebeginning of the stroke in the HCCI engine in comparison to thetemperature used in an SI engine. This elevated starting temperature isprimarily achieved by either or both of two processes: a pre-heating ofthe air/fuel charge, or a reintroduction of some of the hot exhaustgasses from the previous cycle into the current cycle. In terms ofefficiency, the latter method is typically superior.

[0005] After auto-ignition and during the combustion process, thetypical HCCI engine achieves a higher average temperature in thecylinder, but a lower peak temperature as compared to SI. Furthermore,combustion sites are distributed throughout the cylinder, and there isgenerally no coherent flame front in the cylinder as occurs in SIengines. These attributes of HCCI combustion combine to yield a higherefficiency and a dramatic decrease in the amounts of certain types ofpollutants.

[0006] However, the HCCI method of combustion also introduces certaindisadvantages. A primary disadvantage is that HCCI is generally moresuitable to low and medium load regimes than for higher load regimes.This stems primarily from the fact that HCCI uses a diluted charge, andhence cannot achieve the high peak power attributes capable when moreconcentrated charges are applied.

[0007] Two-stroke HCCI engines have been used, but these engines havebeen restricted to small, low-power applications which are not suitable,due to the typical drawbacks of the purely two-stroke cycle, for use incommercial vehicles. A first significant disadvantage of using a purelytwo-stroke engine in a commercial vehicle is that lubrication oftwo-stroke engines is a difficult problem. Lubrication oil often needsto be mixed in with the gasoline fuel, and therefore partially combustsin the cylinder directly introducing a large number of pollutants. Asecond significant disadvantage of purely two-stroke engines is thatduring the exhaust/intake cycle, there is a period of time when both theintake and exhaust ports are open, which allows a portion of theuncombusted fuel/oil mixture to flow out into the environment.

[0008] However, in a two-stroke cycle, the work-producing cycle happenstwice as fast in comparison to a four-stroke cycle.

[0009] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a system andmethod that achieves the advantages of the standard HCCI process whileovercoming the inherent disadvantages and shortcomings of both purelyfour-stroke and purely two-stroke HCCI engines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The method of the present invention overcomes the loadrestrictions of the standard four-stroke HCCI engine by switching to atwo-stroke cycle operation when high-load is required. In the two-strokecycle, the work-producing cycle occurs twice as often as in thefour-stroke cycle, and hence the power output of the engine can beincreased. The switching between the two-stroke cycle and thefour-stroke cycle is achieved by means of judiciously and suitablyvarying the timing and lift profile of both the intake and exhaustvalves.

[0011] The system of the present invention employs fully variable andcontrollable valves, such as electro-hydraulic valves, whose timing andprofile are completely decoupled from the piston position in thecylinder. Other types of fully variable valves that may be used in thiscontext include electromagnetic valves. The system also includes aturbocharged compressor.

[0012] According to the present invention, the inherent difficulties ofusing a two-stroke engine in commercial vehicle is addressed by anengine system in which the two-stroke cycle run is performed in anengine designed for a four-stroke cycle. Hence, lubrication issues areresolved. In this engine system, variable valves are used to ensure thatno flow-through of fresh charge from the intake to exhaust ports occurs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a graph depicting both a turbocharged two strokeengine cycle (solid line) according to an embodiment of the presentinvention and a supercharged standard four-stroke engine cycle (dottedline) with pressure on the y-axis versus volume on the x-axis.

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a graph of ranges of operation of the two-stroke andfour-stroke cycles in terms of engine output torque versus engine speed.

[0015]FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a system for implementing the methodaccording to the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 4 shows a graph depicting both a turbocharged two-strokeDiesel engine cycle (solid line) according to an embodiment of thepresent invention and a Diesel four-stroke engine cycle (dotted line)with pressure on the y-axis versus volume on the x-axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017]FIG. 1 depicts an ideal-case modified two-stroke HCCI engine cycleaccording to an embodiment of the present invention shown in a solidline and an ideal-case standard supercharged 4-stroke engine cycle shownin a dotted line. Each cycle includes several paths between numberedpoints, where each point represents a given pressure/volume state in anengine cylinder and each path represents a distinct portion of the cyclein which the pressure/volume state of the cylinder changes. For example,the path from point 1 to point 2 represents a compression stroke, thepath from point 2 to point 3 represents a combustion stroke, the pathfrom point 3 to point 4 represents an expansion stroke in the modifiedHCCI process according to the present invention, while the path from 3to point 4′ represents an expansion stroke in a standard 4-stroke cycle.In the modified two-stroke HCCI process according to the presentinvention, the path from 4 to 6 includes an exhaust of gases between 4and 5, and a continued expansion of the piston between 5 and 6, whereasin the standard 4-stroke engine, the path between points 4′, 5′, and 6′represents a exhaust stroke that brings the piston to the top of thecylinder, emptying the cylinder of exhaust gases. In the modifiedprocess, the path between 6 and 7 represents an intake of a charge,while in the standard 4-stroke, the path from point 6′ to point 7′ backto point 1 represents an intake stroke with an accompanying movement ofthe piston.

[0018] The detailed mechanism of the modified two-stroke HCCI processand the standard 4-stroke cycle will now be explained with reference tothe various pressure/volume points on the graph of FIG. 1. In themodified two-stroke HCCI process, during the expansion stroke, theexhaust valve is opened at a higher pressure (and lower volume) at point4 in comparison to the standard four-stroke cycle in which the exhaustvalve opened at point 4′. Since the pressure at point 4 (P₄) in thecylinder is larger than the pressure within the exhaust manifold, aportion of the contents of the cylinder escape rapidly into the exhaustmanifold, decreasing the pressure within the cylinder to P₅ (at point5), at which point the exhaust valve is closed. It is noted that theprecise location of points 4 and 5 on the graph are controllable anddepend on the amount of the contents of the cylinder it is desired toretain in order to dilute the charge in the next cycle. After closingthe exhaust valve, the remaining cylinder contents are then expanded topoint 6, at which the intake valve is opened. The intake port isturbocharged to an elevated pressure P₁ so that the contents of a chargeenter the cylinder between points 6 and 7. The elevated pressure P₁ atthe intake manifold allows a fresh charge to be injected into thecylinder without requiring the suction normally occurring when thepiston moves downward in an expansion stroke, thus dispensing of theneed for both an exhaust stroke and an intake stroke. The intake valveis closed at point 7, and a new cycle begins with a new compressionstroke. The pressure at point 1 is controllably selected so that asufficient initial temperature T₁ is achieved to enable autoignition ofthe fuel at the beginning of combustion at point 2. In this manner theentire cycle according to the present invention uses two strokes of thepiston instead of four.

[0019] By contrast, in the standard four-stroke cycle, the expansionstroke is carried further to a larger volume at V_(4′), which isfollowed by a full stroke of the piston in the exhaust stroke in thepath from 4′ to 5′ to 6′. Once the exhaust stroke is complete, thepiston is brought down in a further stroke to create the suction fordrawing in charge during an intake cycle from 7′ to 1.

[0020] The amount of work performed by a cylinder piston in a cycle isdefined as integral over the cycle of the quantity pdV, where p is thepressure and dV is the elemental change in volume of the cylinder.Graphically, the amount of work performed in a cycle corresponds to thearea enclosed by the traces of the p-V curve where the orientation ofthe curve is clockwise (the area delimited by points 2-3-4-5), while thearea enclosed by the p-V curve where the orientation of the curve iscounter-clockwise represents the amount of work needed to be inputexternally to the cycle (the area delimited by points 5-6-1). Thus, itshould be noted that the modified two-stroke HCCI process according tothe present invention performs an amount of work W_(2s), which is lessthan the amount of work produced by the supercharged four-stroke cycleW_(4s). However, by precisely selecting the pressure and volume at whichthe exhaust valve is opened at point 4, we can achieve the followingrelation:

0.5*W _(4s) <W _(2s) <W _(4s)  (1)

[0021] Since the two-stroke cycle according to the present inventionexecutes at twice the speed of the four-stroke cycle as it occurs forevery two piston strokes instead of every four strokes, if relation (1)is satisfied, it implies that the overall power generated by thetwo-stroke cycle (P_(2s)) is greater than the power generated by thefour-stroke cycle (P_(4s)). It is noted that the boosting of the intakepressure is achieved by using a turbocharger that runs on the energy ofthe gases in the exhaust port. Since, in the two-stroke cycle described,these gases have a higher energy than in typical four-stroketurbocharged engines, the pressure boost is available at lower enginerevolutions, and a high proportion of the energy used for pressureboosting is recovered from the combustion products. This effect is takeninto account when evaluating the available work W_(2s), from thetwo-stroke cycle.

[0022] Due to the availability of pressure boosting at a wider range ofengine speeds than in a standard four-stroke cycle, the two-stroke cyclecan be applied at lower engine speeds. Thus, according to the presentinvention, to increase engine power, the engine can be switched from afour-stroke HCCI mode to a two-stroke HCCI mode when such an increasepower is called for. In practice, the actual switch between modes cantake place during the expansion or exhaust strokes of either mode. FIG.2 shows a graph of the ranges of operation of the two-stroke andfour-stroke cycles in terms of engine output torque versus engine speed.As can be discerned, in the medium to low power regime, the engine runsin the four-stroke HCCI regime. In periods of high load demand, theengine operates in the two-stroke regime to achieve higher power.However, it is noted that the degree to which the two-stroke regime canbe extended for higher engine speeds depends to an extent upon the speedand power of the fully variable valve system used to control the openingand closing of the exhaust and intake valves. The graph of FIG. 2 may bedigitally represented and stored in non-volatile memory resourcessituated in the vehicle, and can be used as a data resource or “datamap” for indicating which mode the engine should be operating in itscurrent state.

[0023]FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system thatcan be used in conjunction with the modified two-stroke HCCI process ofthe present invention. As shown, an engine cylinder 10 enclosing acharge space 12 and a piston 15 is coupled to a turbocharger comprisinga compressor (C) and a turbine (T) via fully variable valves 21, 22(directly controlled from a variable valve system 20) that open andclose intake 25 and exhaust ports 26 of the cylinder respectively. Thetiming and lift (travel) profiles of the fully variable valves 21, 22can be varied independently from the position of the piston 15. Theturbocharger is coupled to both the intake manifold 27 and the exhaustmanifold 28, and provides a pressurized fuel/air charge into the chargespace 12 of the cylinder through the intake manifold 27 to an intakeport 25 of the cylinder. The turbine (T) of the turbocharger alsoreceives energy for boosting the charge pressure from the heated exhaustgases released from the cylinder into the exhaust manifold 28 via anexhaust port 26.

[0024] As discussed, for example, in the article by N. B. Kaahaaina etal. cited above, one type of fully variable valve that can beimplemented in this system are electro-hydraulic valves that use ahydraulic power supply and spool valve to translate a piston which bearsagainst a poppet valve. The position of the poppet valve can be adjustedwith a high degree of precision by altering the fluid supply to eachside of the piston via the spool valve. The spool valve, in turn, may becontrolled via a linear motor. Position feedback may be provided by alinear variable differential transformer (LVDT) attached to the actuatorpiston. It is understood that other fully variable valve configurationsand mechanisms may also be implemented in a manner consistent with therequirements of the present invention.

[0025] A sensor suite 30 is coupled both to the charge space 12 of thecylinder and to the crankshaft 40 through which it makes measurementsof, for example, the pressure and temperature of the gases in the chargespace and also the revolutions per minute (RPMs) of the crankshaft. Thesensor suite outputs signals representative of these parameters to anelectronic controller/observer 50, which may include, for example, amicroprocessor or other suitable processing arrangement. Thecontroller/observer 50 monitors the power demand and the current stateof engine and controls the switching between two-stroke and four-strokemodes when it determines that a switch between two-stroke andfour-stroke modes (or vice versa) would be advantageous to accommodate ademand for high engine load. The state of the engine is partlycharacterized by pressure and temperature measurements in the cylinder10, the intake manifold 27, the exhaust manifold 28, and the enginerevolution speed. Sensors adapted for detecting other parameters canalso be incorporated in the sensor suite 30. Based on the informationprovided by the sensor suite 30, the torque demand request made by theengine operator via the accelerator pedal, and the data map representedby FIG. 2, the controller executes a preset program, which outputscontrol inputs to the variable valve system 20 and the turbocharger. Inthis way, the controller/observer 50 implements the modified two-strokeHCCI method according to the present invention for extending HCCI intohigh load regimes.

[0026] While the method according to the present invention has beenprimarily presented for the case of engines operating with HCCIcombustion, the method is equally applicable to other combustion modes.In particular, this method can be applied to engines operating purely inthe spark-ignition mode, as well as engines operating in Diesel mode.

[0027] In particular, the modified two stroke HCCI process can be usedin a Diesel cycle as shown in FIG. 4. In contrast to the gasoline (Otto)cycle, the combustion process (between points 2 and 3) in the standardDiesel cycle happens at constant pressure, reflecting the high speed ofcombustion. However, the two-stroke modification takes place at point 4,and a further intake takes place between 6 and 7 as in the case of thetwo-stroke cycle for standard gasoline cycle described above anddepicted in FIG. 1.

[0028] Since the modified two-stroke HCCI process according to thepresent invention inherently utilizes the oil system of the standardfour-stroke engine, the lubrication problem related to purely two-strokeengine cycles is avoided.

[0029] In the foregoing description, the invention has been describedwith reference to a number of examples that are not to be consideredlimiting. For example, while the present invention is particularlysuitable for HCCI engines using gasoline or Diesel fuel, it is notlimited to this specific type of fuel. Other fuels, including bothliquid and gaseous fuels can be used. Examples of such fuels includeliquid or gaseous hydrogen, gaseous hydrocarbon fuels (such as methane,propane), or other hydrocarbon liquid fuels. It is to be understood andexpected that variations in the principles of the systems and methodsherein disclosed may be made by one skilled in the art and it isintended that such modifications, changes, and/or substitutions are tobe included within the scope of the present invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of extending the load range ofHomogeneous Charge Compression Ignition in an internal combustion engineincluding an engine cylinder having a piston, the method comprising:detecting a current state of the engine; detecting a load demand placedon the engine; determining if the load demand is beyond a powergenerating capacity of a four-stroke engine cycle based on the currentstate of the engine and the load demand; and switching from thefour-stroke engine cycle mode to a two-stroke engine cycle mode when itis determined that the load demand is beyond the capacity of thefour-stroke engine cycle.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the enginehas a standard four-stroke design with a valving system capable ofexecuting timing and travel profiles independently with respect to aposition of the piston in the cylinder.
 3. The method of claim 2,further comprising: using an electronic controller, determining based onload demand and a current state of the engine, the timing and travelprofiles of the fully variable valves to be executed.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the step of switching from the four-stroke engine cyclemode to a two-stroke engine cycle mode includes: opening an exhaustvalve early during an expansion of the piston through the enginecylinder; and introducing a new charge into the cylinder via an intakevalve coupled to an intake manifold by boosting pressure in the intakemanifold to higher than atmospheric pressure.
 5. The method of claim 2,wherein the pressure in the intake manifold is boosted by aturbocharger.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the exhaust valve andthe intake valves are electro-hydraulic valves or electromagneticvalves.
 7. A system for implementing a high load two-stroke HCCI enginecycle in an internal combustion engine including a cylinder having apiston that normally operates using a four-stroke HCCI engine cycle, thesystem comprising: an electronic controller/observer configured toswitch from the four-stroke engine cycle mode to the two-stroke mode inresponse to a high load demand; a variable valving system coupled to theelectronic controller/observer and responsive to signals transmitted bythe electronic controller/observer to actuate intake and exhaust valvesof the cylinder in a fully variable manner; and a turbocharger coupledto the cylinder and controlled by the electronic controller/observeroperative to provide a pressure-boosted charge to the cylinder, enablingintroduction of a charge without movement of the piston.
 8. The systemof claim 7, wherein the engine has a standard four-stroke design and thevariable valving system is capable of executing timing and travelprofiles independently with respect to a position of the piston in thecylinder.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the electroniccontroller/observer determines, based on load demand and a current stateof the engine, the timing and travel profiles of the fully variablevalves to be executed.
 10. A method of operating an internal combustionengine that normally operates in a four-stroke engine cycle mode, themethod comprising: determining if a load demand placed on the engine isbeyond a power generating capacity of the four-stroke-engine cycle mode;and switching from the four-stroke engine cycle mode to a two-strokeengine cycle mode when it is determined that the load demand is beyondthe capacity of the four-stroke engine cycle.
 11. The method of claim10, wherein engine is operable via at least one of a liquid and gaseousfuel, the fuel being one of hydrocarbon-based and non-hydrocarbon-based.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fuel includes at least one ofmethane and propane.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the four-strokeengine cycle mode and the two-stroke engine cycle mode are adapted forstandard gasoline fuel and Otto cycle.
 14. The method of claim 10,wherein the four-stroke engine cycle mode and the two-stroke enginecycle mode are adapted for Diesel fuel and Diesel cycle.